Ohio Power Company (formerly doing business as AEP Ohio): generator, battery backup & CPAP rules
Service area: About 1.5 million customers in 61 Ohio counties, including the Columbus and Canton areas.
Meter collar transfer switches
No published rule found
AEP Ohio has not published a list of approved meter collars or meter socket adapters. AEP's Meter and Service Guide, which covers AEP Ohio, says no customer or third-party equipment may be attached to the meter or its metering equipment, and customer equipment must be on the load side of the meter. Ohio regulators chose not to add meter socket adapter rules to the state interconnection rules for now (case 24-1039-EL-ORD). Ask AEP Ohio before buying a collar such as a Tesla Backup Switch, GenerLink or Enphase IQ Meter Collar.
Generator and battery disconnect requirements
Do not connect a portable generator to your home wiring without proper isolation from the AEP Ohio grid. AEP requires a positive method of isolating its power circuits from generator circuits. Tell AEP Ohio before you install a permanent standby generator; its transfer equipment must follow the National Electrical Code. A standby generator with a make-before-break transfer that overlaps the grid for less than 100 milliseconds is outside the interconnection rules but must meet UL 1008. A home battery system needs a readily accessible disconnect within sight of the battery that can be locked open and is marked "ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM DISCONNECT". Solar, wind or storage systems that run in parallel with the grid must be reviewed and approved, and their disconnect switch must be accessible to and lockable by utility staff if it is outside the equipment.
Gas meter upgrades for standby generators
Gas utility: AEP Ohio does not supply natural gas. Columbia Gas of Ohio serves many areas; other areas have a different gas company.
Columbia Gas of Ohio's New Business team handles added gas use for home generators, including right-sizing meters and service lines and meter upgrades. Call 1-800-440-6111 or submit a service application. Columbia does not list a fee for this on its construction page.
Estimate your gas load with our gas meter calculator and read how gas meter sizing works.
Medical program for CPAP, BiPAP and oxygen users
- Program
- Medical Certification (Ohio 30-day medical certificate)
- What it provides
- Delays disconnection for nonpayment when a licensed medical provider certifies that losing service would be especially dangerous to someone's health or would make necessary medical or life-supporting equipment unusable. It is not a bill discount. You must sign up for an extended payment plan before the certification period ends. AEP Ohio urges customers who use life-supporting equipment to have a backup power source and a plan for outages.
- CPAP / BiPAP
- Not named. The rule covers "necessary medical or life-supporting equipment" in general.
- Renewal
- Each certification lasts 30 days. It can be renewed twice, for a limit of three certifications (90 days) per household in any 12 months.
Backup battery or generator programs
- Program
- None found
- What it provides
- AEP Ohio does not offer a backup battery or generator program for medical customers. It encourages customers with life-supporting medical equipment to have their own backup power source and an alternate plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does AEP Ohio allow meter collar transfer switches like the Tesla Backup Switch?
No published rule found. AEP Ohio has not published a list of approved meter collars or meter socket adapters. AEP's Meter and Service Guide, which covers AEP Ohio, says no customer or third-party equipment may be attached to the meter or its metering equipment, and customer equipment must be on the load side of the meter. Ohio regulators chose not to add meter socket adapter rules to the state interconnection rules for now (case 24-1039-EL-ORD). Ask AEP Ohio before buying a collar such as a Tesla Backup Switch, GenerLink or Enphase IQ Meter Collar.
Does AEP Ohio have a program for customers who use a CPAP or other medical equipment?
Medical Certification (Ohio 30-day medical certificate): Delays disconnection for nonpayment when a licensed medical provider certifies that losing service would be especially dangerous to someone's health or would make necessary medical or life-supporting equipment unusable. It is not a bill discount. You must sign up for an extended payment plan before the certification period ends. AEP Ohio urges customers who use life-supporting equipment to have a backup power source and a plan for outages. Not named. The rule covers "necessary medical or life-supporting equipment" in general.
Does AEP Ohio offer backup batteries or generator rebates for medical customers?
We did not find a current backup battery or generator program for medical customers at AEP Ohio. AEP Ohio does not offer a backup battery or generator program for medical customers. It encourages customers with life-supporting medical equipment to have their own backup power source and an alternate plan.
How do I get a bigger gas meter for a standby generator in the AEP Ohio area?
AEP Ohio does not supply natural gas. Columbia Gas of Ohio serves many areas; other areas have a different gas company.: Columbia Gas of Ohio's New Business team handles added gas use for home generators, including right-sizing meters and service lines and meter upgrades. Call 1-800-440-6111 or submit a service application. Columbia does not list a fee for this on its construction page.